Community In Poland Research Articles

“It’s Not a Matter of Choice”: Aleksander Smolar Interviewed by Konrad Matyjaszek

Konrad Matyjaszek’s interview with Aleksander Smolar focuses on the contemporary Polish intelligentsia, identified as a social group and a social milieu, and on this group’s self-image produced in relation to antisemitism, understood here both as a set of violence-based public activities and practices, and as an excluding prejudice that constitutes a component of the Polish culture. Aleksander Smolar discusses the history of Aneks, the Polish-language émigré socio-cultural journal, whose editor-in-chief he remained during the entire time of its activity (1973–1990). He talks about the political conditions and forms of pressure directed at the Aneks’s editorial board, composed in majority of persons forced to emigrate from Poland during the antisemitic campaign of March 1968, he also mentions the post-1968 shift of the Polish sphere of culture towards the political right and conservatism, and the rapprochement between the left-wing opposition circles and the organizations associated with the Catholic Church that was initiated in the 1970s. He also recounts reactions to the political changes expressed by his father, Grzegorz Smolar, a communist activist and an activist of the Jewish community in Poland. Afterwards, Smolar discusses the context of creation of his 1986 essay Taboo and Innocence [Tabu i niewinność] and analyses the reasons for which the majority of the Polish intelligentsia chose not to undertake cultural critique directed against the antisemitic components of the Polish culture.

Sytuacja edukacyjna dzieci ze środowiska romskiego – ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem potrzeb w zakresie terapii logopedycznej (na przykładzie miasta Olsztyna)

Romani children, due to the ethno-cultural and social specificity of the community in which they are brought up, constitute a group of pupils who require special assistance in determining the course of their school education, as well as directed support in the area of psychological and pedagogical assistance (also in the area of speech therapy). Therefore, this article presents not only the specificity of the Romani community in Poland, but also – based on the example of Olsztyn – the activities conducted for the Romani inhabitants of this city and their children studying in selected schools operating in the city.

Alcoholics Anonymous Comes to Poland: The Founding of the Polish AA and the American Connection

The goal of this article is primarily to present a historical outline of the origins of the Polish AA, supplemented with general reflections on the 12-step fellowships and their “American” specificity, as well as the challenges posed by their adaptation to a different cultural context. In-depth interviews used in my research, complemented by cultural sources and fellow-alcoholics' publications on the history of the community in Poland make it possible to close the gap that has persisted in the AA research. They indicate the social and cultural aspects of the spread of the 12-steps movements, which so far have not been studied directly, since the research has mainly dealt with the therapeutic side of the issue. Moreover, including the Polish perspective might add new threads to the debate on the U.S. cultural influence abroad.

Think Locally and Act Globally: Understanding Human Development in the Era of Globalisation

Abstract For well over two decades the phrase “Think Global, Act Local” shaped the rhetoric used by social movements, environmental activists and intellectuals critical of the neoliberal narrative of globalisation. The intention was to obtains ideas and solutions elaborated in various parts of the world implemented in local communities and to give special meaning to progressive proposals of international social movement contesting globalisation. This approach could certainly be beneficial in terms of the diffusion of good environmental practices or spreading civil society ideas in developing countries. However, when global ideas reach local ground, they remain global ideas, and sometimes very foreign ones, which may take over or eclipse local concepts in unintended or less-than-ideal ways. Occasionally, this approach could even lead to overpowering what is local instead of empowering it. Therefore, having the empowerment of local communities in mind, we propose that those who really contest globalisation of the neoliberal narrative should turn the tables and work to “Think Locally, Act Globally.” Thinking locally and acting globally helps to ensure that adequate attention will be paid to local needs and local ideas. Presently, no local community exists outside of the global context and its influences, which affects the writings of contemporary sociologists who tend to emphasise the concept of “place” when analysing local communities. The nature of bonds on the local level changes in the globalised world, as local communities become more goal-oriented, utilising the functional proximity of people and other assets of the community. These new types of communities emerge even in places previously recognised as being shaped by local customs and traditions. These changes can be seen in the rural, semi-rural and small-town communities of Zalipie and Dąbrowa Tarnowska in Małopolska, as well as Radzionków in Silesia and in the nationwide study of rural communities in Poland. Their potential as the communities of the new type can be recognised as matching with neo-endogenous and sustainable development concepts.

Urania as a 100-year old magazine, coeval with the IAU

Abstract“Urania” is a popular Polish astronomy magazine, one of the oldest in the world among present journals of this type. The first official issue was published in 1922, but the origins of “Urania” are even older, as in 1919 and 1920 there were published a few issues of a predecessor of “Urania” with the same title. So we can say that “Urania” and the IAU are of the same age. The role of “Urania” has been changing during these 100 years, but the magazine has been always a very important entity for the astronomical community in Poland, both professional and amateur. Thousands of pages contain an historical record of astronomy in Poland, as well as the progress of astronomy in the world, including IAU activities.

Rickettsiales Occurrence and Co-occurrence in Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Natural and Urban Areas

Bacteria of Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae families include disease agents spread by Ixodes ricinus ticks, the most common tick vector in Europe. The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and co-infection prevalence of particular tick-transmitted Rickettsiales members: Rickettsia spp. (further referred as Rs), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap), and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” (CNM) in I. ricinus ticks in two types of areas, different in terms of human impact: natural and urban. Using additional data, we aimed at investigating co-occurrence of these Rickettsiales with Borreliella spp. A total of 4189 tick specimens, 2363 from the urban area (Warsaw park and forests) and 1826 from the natural area (forests and park in the vicinity of National Parks), were tested for the presence of Rickettsiales DNA by PCRs. The prevalence of selected Rickettsiales was twice higher in urban than natural areas (13.2% vs. 6.9%, respectively). In total ticks, the prevalence of Rs, Ap, and CNM was 6.5%, 5.3%, and 3.6% in urban areas vs. 4.4%, 1.1%, and 2.1% in natural areas, respectively. Co-infections of Rickettsiales were also more prevalent in urban areas (2.6% vs. 0.3%, respectively). The most common Rs was R. helvetica; also R. monacensis and novel “Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii” were detected. Positive association between Ap and CNM infections was discovered. Rickettsiales bacteria occurrence was not associated with Borreliella occurrence, but co-infections with these two groups were more common in ticks in urban areas. In conclusion, three groups of Rickettsiales constituted the important part of the tick pathogen community in Poland, especially in the urbanized central Poland (Mazovia). In the Warsaw agglomeration, there is a greater risk of encountering the I. ricinus tick infected with Rickettsiales and co-infected with Lyme spirochaetes, in comparison to natural areas. This finding raises the question whether cities might in fact be the hot spots for TBDs.

Public Opinion Regarding the Postulates of the LGBT Community in Poland

Public Opinion Regarding the Postulates of the LGBT Community in Poland

Badania cytoszkieletu, skurczu mięśni i ruchu komórek w Instytucie Nenckiego

W 2018 roku Instytut Biologii Doświadczalnej im. M. Nenckiego w Warszawie obchodzi 100. rocznicę istnienia, a artykuł ten jest częścią specjalnego numeru poświęconego wiekowi badań przeprowadzonych w Instytucie w zakresie cytoszkieletu, ruchliwości komórek i skurczu mięśni. Artykuł opisuje historię badań oraz grupy zajmujące się tymi zagadnieniami przez dziesięciolecia. Ponadto, prezentuje wieloletni wkład naukowców z Instytutu Nenckiego w środowisko naukowe w Polsce i za granicą.

Struktura potrzeb użytkowników lokalnych centrów usługowych w różnych kontekstach osadniczych. Studium porównawcze pl. I.L. Pereca we Wrocławiu i rynku w Siechnicach

Celem pracy jest rozpoznanie codziennych potrzeb mieszkańców obszarów zurbanizowanych w Polsce oraz ocena możliwości ich zaspokojenia w lokalnych (osiedlowych) centrach usługowych, rozumianych jako wielofunkcyjne przestrzenie publiczne zapewniające dostęp do podstawowych usług, sprzyjające integracji społecznej i budowaniu tożsamości lokalnej mieszkańców. Mając na uwadze zróżnicowaną dynamikę rozwoju osadniczego kraju, do badania wytypowano tereny reprezentujące różne formy przestrzenne obszarów zurbanizowanych: część dużego miasta i część miejscowości podmiejskiej. Badanie przeprowadzone metodą ankietową w czerwcu i lipcu 2017 roku na pl. I.L. Pereca we Wrocławiu i na rynku w Siechnicach (łącznie 232 respondentów) pozwala określić strukturę potrzeb użytkowników, praktyki ich zaspokajania oraz deficyty w zakresie usług. Zestawienie wyników dla społeczności lokalnych w mieście i na przedmieściach daje szeroki obraz relacji między sposobem zagospodarowania przestrzeni publicznych a codziennym funkcjonowaniem ich użytkowników w różnych kontekstach osadniczych. Artykuł potwierdza potrzebę tworzenia lokalnych centrów usługowych jako istotnego narzędzia w kształtowaniu jakości życia w obszarach zurbanizowanych i staje się przyczynkiem do wypracowania uniwersalnych rozwiązań funkcjonalno-przestrzennych sprzyjających budowaniu silnych społeczności lokalnych w Polsce.

Polscy Tatarzy w podlaskich mediach publicznych

This article concerns the Tatar community in Poland and its image in public media in Podlasie. Above all, the author considers the place of Tatar programs in the space reserved for national and ethnic minorities in the programming of Radio Białystok and the Białystok division of Polish Television. The author addresses the question of how these broadcasts are conducted and also cooperation between the media and the ethnic minority in the last dozen or more years. His conclusions are based on empirical material deriving from analysis of the content of the internet archives of the Podlasie public media, legal acts and documents, and qualitative interviews with representatives of the Tatar community and local media.

Under the British Roof: The British Contribution to the Development of Hospice and Palliative Care in Poland.

The article focuses on British contribution to the development of palliative and hospice care in Poland in the 1980s and beyond. It is based on archival research in the hospices in Cracow and Poznan and broad-scoped Polish journals' review. The social background of the hospice movement in Poland is described. We explore the role of inspiration and help of Dame Cicely Saunders and other British leaders in the transfer of British hospice philosophy and practice of palliative care to the medical community in Poland. This study demonstrates the importance of institutions for the formal exchange of medical information.

The Impact of Brain Breaks Classroom-Based Physical Activities on Attitudes toward Physical Activity in Polish School Children in Third to Fifth Grade.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Brain Breaks® Physical Activity Solutions in changing attitudes toward physical activity of school children in a community in Poland. In 2015, a sample of 326 pupils aged 9–11 years old from 19 classes at three selected primary schools were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups within the study. During the classes, children in the experimental group performed physical activities two times per day in three to five minutes using Brain Breaks® videos for four months, while the control group did not use the videos during the test period. Students’ attitudes toward physical activities were assessed before and after the intervention using the “Attitudes toward Physical Activity Scale”. Repeated measures of ANOVA were used to examine the change from pre- to post-intervention. Overall, a repeated measures ANOVA indicated time-by-group interaction effects in ‘Self-efficacy on learning with video exercises’, F(1.32) = 75.28, p = 0.00, η2 = 0.19. Although the changes are minor, there were benefits of the intervention. It may be concluded that HOPSports Brain Breaks® Physical Activity Program contributes to better self-efficacy on learning while using video exercise of primary school children.

THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS OF POLISH CHILDREN FOLK ENSEMBLES

The result of Poles' emigration was a constant homesick of a family country. It caused the formation of Polonia communities cultivating national traditions. Through the cooperation of the Polonia with organizations and social communities in Poland, it was possible to maintain the Polonia communication with the home country. The best way to maintain the national identity was the presence of Polonia in the homeland. The folklore festivals organized in Podkarpacie served this purpose perfectly. The aim of this work is to present the history as well as the organization and process of Festivals of Polish Children Folk Ensembles. The research material consists of source documents collected in the Documentation Center of the Polish Art Movement of the “Wspolnota Polska” Association (branch in Rzeszow). The “Wspolnota Polska” Association sought to cooperate with Polish and Polish-American organizations in order to create Polish community festivals in Poland. An example of such a festival was the Festival of Children's Polish Folklore Groups. These festivals were organized in Iwonicz-Zdroj due to the infrastructure of the spa. Concerts were held in many cities of the Podkarpacie region. The organizers of the festival were: the Provincial Office in Krosno, the Municipal Office in Krosno, the City and Commune Office in Iwonicz-Zdroj and the Provincial Culture Center in Krosno. Local authorities, as well as private and individual companies, were also involved in its organizations. Individual tasks were dealt with by committees set up by the Festival's organizing office. The festival program consisted of contests, gala concerts and a number of accompanying events. Every year, 6-17 children's ensembles participated in the festivals. The Festivals of Polish Children Folk Ensembles was a chance for Polish children to get to know and cultivate the traditions of their ancestors. Children also had the opportunity to interact with their peers from Poland and exchange experiences, as well as practice Polish.

Rozwój morskiej energetyki wiatrowej w Polsce – analiza potencjalnych konfliktów społecznych

Energetyka wiatrowa, jedna z najbardziej dynamicznie rozwijających się technologii odnawialnych źródeł energii (OZE), przyniosła szereg nieznanych wcześniej problemów i konfliktów społecznych. Lokalizacja lądowych farm wiatrowych spotyka się w Polsce z licznymi protestami, których skala i siła oddziaływania doprowadziła do powstania regulacji prawnych w praktyce blokujących rozwój tej technologii. Dla morskiej energetyki wiatrowej (MEW, offshore) trwa nadal identyfikacja możliwych źródeł konfliktu. Z uwagi na brak zrealizowanej inwestycji, a tym samym polskich doświadczeń, brakuje metodyki prowadzenia konsultacji i zarządzania konfliktem, a w efekcie wiarygodnych rekomendacji dla inwestorów. W niniejszym artykule wyróżniono możliwe źródła i obszary konfliktu oraz zaproponowano metodologię oceny ryzyka wystąpienia protestu. Proces analizy i oceny można podzielić na trzy etapy. Pierwszy etap polega na wyodrębnieniu i wskazaniu potencjalnych źródeł konfliktów przestrzennych, gospodarczych i środowiskowych dla wskazanych lokalizacji. Identyfikacja źródeł bazuje na doświadczeniach lądowej energetyki wiatrowej i uwzględnieniu specyfiki offshore. Potencjalnymi źródłami konfliktów społecznych dla MEW są między innymi: rybołówstwo komercyjne i rekreacyjne, żegluga morska, przemysł morski, turystyka i rekreacja, istnienie obszarów cennych przyrodniczo. Drugi etap to wskazanie samorządów, grup społecznych i zawodowych narażonych na potencjalne oddziaływania ze strony MEW i udział w konflikcie. Trzeci etap to badanie wrażliwości poszczególnych środowisk i grup społecznych w odniesieniu do konkretnej lokalizacji. W ramach badań przeprowadzono ankiety wśród pracowników wybranych samorządów nadmorskich gmin w Polsce.

Evidence for widespread occurrence of copper in Late Neolithic Poland? A deposit of Funnel Beaker Culture bone products at site 2 in Osłonki (Kuyavia, central Poland)

In the course of archaeological research at site 2 in Osłonki (Kuyavia, central Poland), a dense deposit of 20 cattle bones was discovered, most of which are semi-finished products for production of bone chisels. The collection was dated ab. 3350-3097 calBC. The traceological analysis of technological traces on the artefacts and experimental studies indicate that they were processed using several metal tools with working edges of varying shape, employed as chisels for bone splitting. Although SEM-EDX analyses did not show the presence of a substantial amount of copper on the surfaces of the artefacts, the collection can be considered most likely evidence for widespread use of this metal among Late Neolithic communities in Poland or at least the people who inhabited the area of Kuyavia.

Pamiętnik Warszawskiego Instytutu Głuchoniemych i Ociemniałych źródłem wiedzy o zagranicznych instytucjach kształcenia specjalnego

In the nineteenth century, along with the organization of institutional care and education for people with disabilities, there emerged a need to create theories in this field. Following the formation of practical and theoretical foundations of special education, it became necessary to popularize them. In Poland, this task was taken on in the Diary of the Warsaw Institute for the Deaf and the Blind. The material presented shows the problem of the dissemination of foreign institutions' achievements in the area of special education theory and practice. The basis are articles published on the pages of all the seventeen issues of this magazine. Articles concerning special education in other countries referred to such important issues as educational legislation, compulsory education, organization of the special education system, teaching methods, curricula, teaching materials and teacher training for special education. These publications were the result of the authors' own experiences, who visited foreign institutions, and were extremely important for the creation of special educators' community in Poland. They were not only informative but also constituted a form of teacher development for teachers in schools and special centers.

Origin of the ornamented bâton percé from the Gołębiewo site 47 as a trigger of discussion on long-distance exchange among Early Mesolithic communities of Central Poland and Northern Europe.

This article describes evidence for contact and exchange among Mesolithic communities in Poland and Scandinavia, based on the interdisciplinary analysis of an ornamented bâton percé from Gołębiewo site 47 (Central Poland). Typological and chronological-cultural analyses show the artefact to be most likely produced in the North European Plain, during the Boreal period. Carbon-14 dating confirms the antiquity of the artefact. Ancient DNA analysis shows the artefact to be of Rangifer tarandus antler. Following this species designation, a dispersion analysis of Early-Holocene reindeer remains in Europe was conducted, showing this species to exist only in northern Scandinavia and north-western Russia in this period. Therefore, the bâton from Gołębiewo constitutes the youngest reindeer remains in the European Plain and south-western Scandinavia known to date. An attempt was made to determine the biogeographic region from which the antler used to produce the artefact originates from. To this end, comprehensive δ18O, δ13C and δ15N isotope analyses were performed. North Karelia and South Lapland were determined as the most probable regions in terms of isotopic data, results which correspond to the known distribution range of Rangifer tarandus at this time. In light of these finds, the likelihood of contact between Scandinavia and Central Europe in Early Holocene is evaluated. The bâton percé from Gołębiewo is likely key evidence for long-distance exchange during the Boreal period.

Localization Decisions of Entrepreneurs: The Role of Path Dependency and Market Forces

The purpose of this research is to determine the role of path dependency and market forces in the localization decisions of entrepreneurs from different industries. We hypothesize that most industries develop new entities based on the number of companies from the same industry that already exist in a region. We also hypothesize that entrepreneurs create new entities based on related industries operating within the same knowledge pool. To test these hypotheses, we used the machine learning decision tree method. The input variables are the number of companies from 86 industries located in 2,531 communities in Poland in 2009. The target values are the number of new companies from these industries created in the years 2009–2015. The principal results show that localization decisions are mostly based on demand and supply industries, in which manufacturing industries play crucial role. Path dependency appears in less than half of the industries’ models and thus is not the main factor influencing decisions regarding the creation of new companies. The highest share of path-dependent industries is in manufacturing sector, but the degree of the dependence is lower than in the service sector. The service sector seems to be the least path-dependent, as services usually serve other industries. Competition in industries is a rare factor in new company creation; however, if it appears, it usually shrinks the industry.

Infrastruktura społeczna a zaspokojenie potrzeb mieszkańców gminy Stryków

Gmina Stryków to jedna z najszybciej rozwijających się gospodarczo gmin w Polsce. Jednakże, wraz z rozwojem gospodarczym nie jest współmierny rozwój infrastruktury społecznej, która odgrywa ważną rolę w funkcjonowaniu społeczności lokalnych i ma istotny wpływ na zaspokajanie potrzeb mieszkańców. W związku z powyższym, w lipcu 2017 roku na terenie gminy Stryków przeprowadzone zostały badania sondażowe, które pozwoliły badaczom pozyskać informacje na temat wiedzy mieszkańców o inwestycjach samorządowych zrealizowanych w ostatnich pięciu latach. W trakcie badań respondenci mieli również możliwość wskazania swoich potrzeb w zakresie infrastruktury oraz dostępności do usług. Na podstawie odpowiedzi ankietowanych zauważyć można, że w przestrzeni widzą oni głównie inwestycje związane z infrastrukturą techniczną, a nie społeczną. Natomiast brakuje im w niej głównie kompleksów sportowo-rekreacyjnych, które są elementem infrastruktury społecznej. Wyniki przeprowadzonych badań pozwolą na lepszą identyfikację potrzeb mieszkańców, a w późniejszym czasie również na trafniejsze ich zaspokajanie przez władze lokalne.

From bonds to bridges and back again: co-ethnic ties and the making of Filipino community in Poland

ABSTRACTUtilising indigenous Filipino psychology methods, this study examines the experiences of Filipino migrants in Poland, with a specific focus on the nature and function of their co-ethnic ties. The study is framed against the conceptual notion of bonding and bridging capital and strong and weak ties. Analysis of interview and focus group data suggests that respondents conceptualise co-ethnic ties in ways consistent with scholars’ definitions of bonding capital; however, there is substantial complexity in the nature, function, and strength of such ties. Furthermore, co-ethnic ties are dynamic and their form and function change with time as migrants integrate and adapt to their host countries.